To the Charles Krug Winery we go for the Taste of Howell Mountain event where 50 wineries were sampling their wares on beautiful grounds. While there was an ocean of good Cabs to be sampled the Insider found himself returning to the W.H. Smith tasting table for their 2012 Solo Howell Mountain wine which is [...]
40 Year's Experience .... To the Silverado Resort and Spa we go on Mother's Day where 40 year veteran of Napa and surrounding area restaurants, Jeffrey Jake, Executive Chef, quarterbacks a fine brunch that is packed from the 10:30 a.m opening to the 2:30 p.m closing. Last night's dinner? Had the Petrale Sole with brown [...]
$2,000 ??? Most of us gourmands don’t mind splashing out $100-$200 for a special occasion dinner. It usually ensures a fine, pleasurable experience of good food and wine with nice company if the service delivers. But how about $2,000? Gulp… but Shannon Noble, the man behind rarewinedinners.com had no problem selling out his first U.S. [...]
Farmstead Rocks Farm to Table .... To the Farmstead we go, which is the name on the sign on Saint Helena’s Main St. sign that leads to Long Meadow Ranch, where they got a fantastic combo of a general store, restaurant, garden, barbecue and private dining areas. The Insider sat down on one of Farmstead’s [...]
Derby Party ... I have always hated the writing of Hunter Thompson. Even as a teen I was mystified why people raved about his whacked out of his head typing. I recently watched an ESPN quick doc on his original story in reporting on the Kentucky Derby. It was, unfortunately, the beginning of what came [...]
Love A Good Beer?? To Santa Rosa we go where Aleworks on Third St. knocks my socks off with some excellent brewed on premises craft beers along with some very good pub grub. The Insider sat down with Michaela Hinkson who has been with Aleworks for 21 years, 15 years as GM… I guess you [...]
Love A Great Steak…. To Cole’s Chop House we go… a Napa institution if there ever was one. .. A top notch steak house with excellent wines and service. Co-owner Eric Keffer, who had 12 years at Cole’s before taking over, showed me around the upper lounge with original stone walls and high ceilings, “Heather [...]
Notes from the 10th Pebble Beach Food and Wine Fest... Thurs night was a total blast with great food snacks and awesome after party where the booze was flowing like water... Friday afternoon, a return to The Inn at Spanish Bay, where gorgeous fairways and greens line right up with the Pacific Ocean… so gorgeous, [...]
History of Napa in 8 Glasses .... To the CIA’s Copia Lecture hall where one of their beverage instructors, Traci Dutton, leads a lecture on the history of Napa in eight glasses. In her opening remarks Dutton said that half of the world’s soils are present in the Napa/Sonoma valleys, which is why there is [...]
Extravaganza's Engaging Co-founder.... It was a kick to converse with David Bernahl, Monterey’s Restaurant 1833 owner and co-founder of the Pebble Beach Food and Wine Festival which is coming up on its 10th anniversary next week. David was bubbling over with the enthusiasm about food and wine that I try to bring to the Insider. [...]
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